DIN Rail Enclosures

A DIN rail enclosure is a protective case for electrical devices and components. They enable electronic devices to be mounted onto a standardised metal rail (DIN rail) within a rack or enclosure.

Also known as top hat rail enclosures, they offer a structured and organised way to mount and protect electrical and industrial control components, such as circuit breakers, terminal blocks, power supplies and relays from environmental harm.

DIN rail enclosures are available in a range of sizes, materials and IP ratings for various applications. At RS Australia, we carry metal, polyamide and plastic rail enclosures, as well as DIN rail mount cases, junction boxes and rail cabinets.

What is a DIN Rail?

A DIN rail is a standardised metal rail used to mount electrical and industrial control components inside equipment racks, cabinets, and enclosures. If you’re wondering what DIN stands for, the name is based on the German standards organisation, Deutsches Institut für Normung (DIN).

Key Uses of DIN Rail Enclosures

DIN rails and DIN rail cabinets are widely used in both domestic and industry-specific settings. This is due to their highly modular and flexible nature, which allows for the installation of a wide array of devices in a neat and easily accessible manner.

• Domestic Settings: In homes, DIN rail enclosures neatly house miniature circuit breakers (MCBs) and residual current devices (RCDs).
• Industrial Settings: DIN rail cabinets organise and protect critical control components like PLCs, relays, and terminal blocks within machinery or control cabinets.
• Industrial Automation: DIN rail enclosures are essential for organising and protecting components like PLCs, relays, motor drives, and power supplies in manufacturing plants and production lines.
• HVAC and Building Management: They are used to mount thermostats, timers, controllers, lighting controls, access controls, and energy monitoring devices in HVAC and building automation systems.
• Telecom and IoT: DIN rail enclosures are used to house networking equipment, routers, switches, and communication gateways in telecommunications infrastructure and IoT applications, supporting smart city and building management.
• Renewable Energy and Power Distribution: Everything from solar inverters, battery management units, to DC breakers in renewable energy systems are mounted on DIN rails, for safe and modular systems.

Types of DIN Rail Enclosures

By Protection

Developed by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), an Ingress Protecting (IP) rating or code, is used to determine how much a device can withstand dust and moisture.

IP Rating 20

These enclosures are protected against solid objects larger than 12.5mm (like fingers) but offer no protection against liquids, making them suitable for dry, indoor environments with minimal dust.

IP Rating 40

Providing protection against solid objects larger than 1mm, these enclosures offer no liquid ingress protection and are typically used in clean indoor settings.

IP Rating 65

These enclosures offer complete protection against dust ingress and low-pressure water jets from any direction, making them suitable for both indoor and outdoor use where some water exposure might occur.

IP Rating 66

Offering full protection against dust and strong jets of water from any direction, these enclosures are ideal for harsh outdoor or industrial environments where heavy washdowns or strong splashing is frequent.

By Material

Plastic DIN Rail Enclosures

Metal DIN rail enclosures are generally more durable and provide better electromagnetic shielding, making them ideal for industrial environments where robust protection against physical impact and electromagnetic interference is crucial, such as in factory automation control panels. Steel enclosures are often used in industrial settings.

Metal DIN Rail Enclosures

Plastic DIN rail enclosures are typically lighter, more cost-effective, and offer good electrical insulation, making them suitable for residential consumer applications where weight is a concern. ABS Plastic is an impact-resistant and durable choice suitable for general-purpose applications, while more challenging environments may require polycarbonate DIN rail enclosures.

How to Choose the Right DIN Rail Enclosure

• Size and Mounting Requirements: Ensure the enclosure's dimensions can comfortably accommodate all components and that its mounting type aligns with the available installation space and existing infrastructure.
• Material Selection: Choose between metal for superior durability and EMI shielding in harsh industrial settings, or plastic for cost-effectiveness, lighter weight, and good electrical insulation in less demanding environments.
• IP Rating: Select an IP rating that corresponds to the specific environmental conditions of the installation, guaranteeing adequate protection against dust, moisture, and water ingress.

Mistakes to Avoid when Buying DIN Rail Enclosures

• Grounding Issues: Proper grounding is critical for safety and EMC (Electromagnetic Compatibility). Ensure your DIN rail is properly grounded, especially in applications where components rely on the rail for grounding. Shielded cables and a proper layout can greatly minimise noise.
• Component Compatibility: Ensure all devices are compatible with the chosen DIN rail type and that the rail can handle the load requirements of your components.
• Ignoring Environmental Factors: Determine what IP rating, if any, your DIN rail enclosure requires in light of the environmental setting it will be utilised in.

Common Use Applications

Industrial Automation: DIN rail enclosures provide a standardised and organised mounting solution for PLCs, relays, and terminal blocks within control cabinets, simplifying wiring and maintenance.

• Control Systems: They are used to house and protect sensitive electronic components such as circuit breakers, power supplies, and signal conditioners, ensuring reliable operation of control processes.
• Electrical Panels: DIN rail enclosures facilitate the neat and efficient installation of modular components such as circuit breakers, contactors, and motor starters, optimising space and accessibility.
• Power Distribution: DIN rail enclosures securely mount fuses, miniature circuit breakers (MCBs), and surge protection devices, ensuring the safety of distribution boards, control panels and substations.
• Telecommunications: These enclosures offer a compact and secure way to mount network components, fibre optic splices, and patch panels within communication cabinets, promoting organised cable management and signal integrity.

Australia's Top DIN Rail Enclosure Supplier and Distributor

RS Australia is the leading supplier and distributor of high-quality plastic and metal DIN rail enclosures, cases and junction boxes. We stock reliable products from trusted brands such as Phoenix Contact, CAMDENBOSS and Italtronic. We also carry other enclosure and server rack peripherals such as electrical adaptable boxes and server cable management supplies. For more delivery information, visit our delivery page.